could you clarify please?

Jun 28, 2002

In response to the hair falling out question,you stated hiv could cause hair loss over time.I s this true even if the virus is well controlled (always undetectable and the cd4 count is pretty high(in the 1000 range)I'm also taking viracept but with two different drugs (switched from videx) and I have lost almost all my scalp hair and now my eyelashes and outer eyebrows are almost gone.I've been tested for everything under the sun(even areata)and everything points to the drug.I also have alot of facial swelling,specifically under my chin(in fact I have no facial contour left.I look like a side show freak.I've been on drugs including a p.i. for 5 years.What do you think?Except for doctor's appointments I haven't left my house in a year.I even stopped letting my family see me,because of the strange looks and hearing what's wrong you look so different.I can't even look in the mirror anymore and have to close my eyes when I brush my teeth. Therapy and hypnosis have not helped.What do you think?

Response from Dr. Holodniy

I could not find anything in the literature that points to those specific drugs as a cause of hair loss. In fact viracept helped in one case where a patient was switched from crixivan to viracept.

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